I recently picked up this early Inland, SN 2904xx, that was represented as “original.” Having gone over the carbine with the data sheet and Riesch (5th Ed), I think I know what I have, but would appreciate any comment on this carbine.

First the metal:
The barrel date is 3-43, which is reasonable for the serial number. There are no marks indicating a Type III band was on the carbine. I don’t see any evidence the front sight has been removed and reinstalled. The markings and types for the various parts appear to be correct for the same date, as do springs and plungers. The carbine headspaces properly, the bore is clean and sharp, and the muzzle has less than 25% wear. The pictures show more detailed. The flip sight looks like it was adjusted with a vengeance (and a blunt chisel) but you can see the top of the S on the left side.


Per the data sheet and Riesch:
Bolt: blued, flat, Type II with AI on the left lug
Extractor: Type III with WI
Extractor Plunger: Type II
Ejector: Type I
Firing Pin: blued Type I with WI
Operating Slide: Type II with PI (with slide stop Type II)
Trigger Housing: Type II (with Type II retaining pin)
Trigger: Type II with RHI
Sear: Type I with RI
Hammer Plunger: Blued with spring with 22 coils
Hammer: Dogleg Type II with HI
(The Trigger Housing only shows strikes from the dogleg hammer)
Safety: Type II unmarked
Magazine Catch: Type IIA with EI
Barrel Band: Type IA band unmarked with serif UI on swivel
Front Sight: Type I with N on raised section behind blade
Rear Sight: Flip Sight Type I with S on left side
(There is no evidence of any stake marks on the receiver for the rear sight)
Gas Piston: In the white with PI












Now for the stock; as far as I can determine, this stock is too early for the SN. It is a Highwood stock with the I-cut Oiler slot. It has the OI, the Ordnance Bomb, and the Ordnance Wheel in the sling well, and no visible Cartouche on the right side, which I understand should have appeared around SN 100,000. By the appearance of the Trigger Housing metal on the bottom of the stock it looks like it may have been sanded; but I’ve seen at least two WWII photos of Highwood, I-cut Oiler slot carbines that exposed the same amount of metal (I was looking specifically for that and looked at over a hundred photos of soldiers with M1icon carbines). I don’t think there ever was a cartouche on the right side on this stock. The nose only shows evidence of a Type I barrel band, no Type II/III. As for the other parts, it has an unmarked Type II recoil plate and blued plate screw; the hand guard is two-rivet, shallow groove, with OI stamped on the inner edge; and the butt plate has a square checkering pattern (should be diagonal checkering).



There is also the strange mark on the left, upper part of the stock opposite the chamber. It looks like the outline of a serif I.




As for the stock, if I do anything it will be to replace the hand guard with the correct deep groove two-rivet, OI marked one (if I can find a nice one) and a correct diagonal Inland butt plate, although I would appreciate any suggestions in this regard.

I noticed that I did not take any pictures of the Type IA barrel band; another member of this forum looked at it and had no negative comments, but I can add pictures of it later if anyone is interested.
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